Media literacy key concepts Lesson 4: Media have commercial implications Lesson Plan

Media Literacy 101

Level: Grade 5-8

Author: MediaSmarts has partnered with Concerned Children’s Advertisers to develop a suite of videos on each of the media literacy key concepts.

Duration: 45-90 minutes

Overview

In this lesson, students watch a video introducing the media literacy key concept that media have commercial implications. They then watch an ad for jeans which conceals its commercial nature, and discuss its purpose before and after being aware of its purpose. In an optional final task, students analyze an educational kids’ website created by the US National Dairy Council and identify the ways in which its different elements educate, entertain, persuade and advertise to youth.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

  • understand the key concept that media have commercial implications
  • identify the commercial purpose of a media product
  • understand that media products may serve multiple purposes
  • apply their understanding of commercial implications of media by analyzing the multiple purposes of an educational website (optional task)

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.

Lesson Kit